- Published 23 Jan 2024
- Last Modified 23 Jan 2024
- 6 min
Construction PPE Fundamentals
Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for preventing injuries and fatalities in the construction industry. Employers are obligated to provide PPE for all on-site hazards, as detailed in various health and safety regulations, and the 5-point PPE system can satisfy the bulk of them with simple PPE that everyone can wear.
Reviewed by Stephen Bettles, Technical Support Engineer (December 2023)
PPE is personal protective equipment used for staying safe from workplace hazards. Working in construction means near-constant exposure to hazards on some level, so PPE in construction is an essential part of staying safe. This PPE guide will explain the different regulations that govern PPE for construction and the employer’s duty to provide it to all personnel exposed to worksite hazards. The 5-point PPE system is a simple method for providing constant protection against the majority of construction hazards.
Safety in the Construction Industry
Injuries and deaths in the UK’s construction industry are, sadly, on the rise. Many of these are due to vehicles or heavy objects striking workers, demonstrating the value of high-visibility clothing. That and other types of construction PPE can play a large role in improving the industry’s safety performance.
Health and Safety Regulations
What PPE is mandatory on a construction site? Various UK regulations define the full PPE construction sites must provide.
- The Personal Protective Equipment Enforcement Regulations (2018) define PPE requirements that can be applied to all industries and workplaces
- The Health and Safety in Construction guide outlines the required PPE for construction health and safety specifically
- The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations (1989) focus on the requirements for hard hats in construction
Familiarise yourself with these to ensure you are meeting your obligations for providing PPE for construction.
PPE for Construction
Construction site PPE must protect against the various hazards present on construction sites:
- Falling tools or rubble
- Airborne dust or material fragments
- Vehicles or heavy equipment navigating tight spaces
- Sharp objects on the ground
- Exposure to the components used in making concrete
All hazards must be identified, assessed, and addressed. For hazards that cannot be eliminated, establish one or more of:
- Engineering controls, such as safety guards
- Administrative controls, such as designating off-limits areas
- PPE controls, such as mandating hard hats
Use engineering and administrative controls to their greatest possible extent and PPE controls to mitigate remaining risk. Employers are obligated to provide PPE for each hazard deemed to require it.
Types of Construction PPE
Most construction PPE falls within these five types:
- Hard hats
- Eye protection
- High-visibility clothing
- Safety footwear
- Hand protection
These form the 5-point PPE system of PPE in construction, though there are certainly other types to consider in construction health and safety: ear, respiratory, and fall protection all play important roles in keeping construction workers safe. Fatalities from falls are particularly prevalent in construction, though fall protection isn’t required by all personnel at all times, as with 5-point PPE.
Hard Hats
The Construction (Head Protection) Regulations (1989) require hard hats anywhere there is a hazard of falling objects or of workers bumping their heads on equipment. These hazards can include:
- Tools falling from scaffolding
- Material falling from a crane
- Stepping or working under low pipes
Employers must provide head protection from these hazards and ensure staff are correctly wearing them. Comfortable hard hats are more likely to be diligently worn (as with all construction PPE). RS carries straps and webbing for customising fit and comfort, liners for staying safe in cold environments, and adapters for affixing safety visors to allow combined head and face protection.
Bump caps are a type of head protection for when falling objects are less of a concern than overhead impacts in tight spaces. These keep your head safe while giving more comfort and ventilation, though they must be approved as a hard hat substitution based on the hazard analysis.
Eye Protection
Eye protection must guard against many different hazards to the eyes:
- Airborne debris
- Metal and wood shavings
- Chemical splashing
- Ultraviolet light
- Electrical arcing
Some of these hazards have certain safety standards that eye protection must meet to ensure protection against them.
RS’s eye protection includes safety goggles and safety glasses. Safety goggles form a complete envelope around the eyes, while safety glasses allow airflow around the eyes. Safety goggles can be more appropriate for construction PPE as they generally offer a higher level of impact protection, especially when drilling or cutting. Along with eye protection supplied to workers, it is good practice to keep substantial spares on-site for visitors and for replacing any goggles that get damaged or worn.
Hi-Vis
The cause of accidents in construction is too often workers simply not being seen. High-visibility clothing (high-vis) is a simple, passive solution for making personnel always prominently visible. It has easily distinguished reflective stripes and often a highly luminescent base fabric colour, such as bright yellow or orange. RS carries high-vis jackets, trousers, overalls, and vests, providing safety for all types of construction workers.
Hi-vis is required for anyone working with or around the following:
- Construction vehicles
- Equipment with rotating booms
- Signalling other workers, such as crane operators
High-vis clothing requires regular cleaning, both for sanitation and to keep the high-vis features clean and reflective. Many industrial laundry services exist for this, and some offer mending as well. If the high-vis features become too soiled, worn, or damaged, replace them promptly.
Safety Footwear
Safety footwear in construction primarily needs to guard against objects dropped on feet, sharp objects puncturing feet, and slips and falls. Most safety boots and shoes protect against these hazards well using toe caps and inserts made from either steel or similar, but non-metallic, materials. RS carries these, as well as other types like Wellington boots for workers who need foot protection against water immersion, chemical exposure, and electrostatic buildups. Assess these hazards carefully and determine exactly what safety footwear each worker needs for their construction PPE.
Given that employees will often provide this PPE based on preference and comfort, consider a safety footwear reimbursement program for fulfilling your duties for providing construction PPE—and ensure all footwear in use is appropriate for all the hazards present.
Hand Protection
Hand protection generally fall into the categories of disposable gloves or work gloves. Hand protection must consider the following:
Dexterity and grip required for the work at hand
Insulation and breathability, based on ambient conditions
- Cut and puncture hazards
- Chemical exposure hazards
- Electrical exposure hazards
- Prolonged vibration hazards
RS has hand protection solutions for all these factors, as well as some gloves specialised for construction work, such as working with concrete.
Disposable gloves are suited for work with the fluids of industrial machinery. Their most versatile material is latex, but nitrile or vinyl options exist for people with latex sensitivity.
5-Point PPE for Construction
5-point PPE is often mandatory for all personnel at construction sites. Its PPE is simple to wear, protects against a wide range of hazards, and is easy to provide on-site in large quantities. A well-implemented 5-point PPE system helps assure compliance with construction health and safety regulations, letting employers avoid punitive fines, prevent safety incidents and their financial and reputational costs, and be assured that they have a safe place of business for all involved.
Browse RS’ construction PPE to kit out your staff properly and safely for the work they do.